Weed Worries at the BBC

June 3rd, 2007

The BBC came down with a nasty bout of reefer madness yesterday when it published this article, subtly titled: “My lungs are damaged beyond repair”. It tells the story of Samantha, a serious stoner who, at 37, has been diagnosed with emphysema. Not a nice condition, her lungs look like Swiss cheese and there’s no cure.

Now when I say serious stoner, I mean this girl was, as the kids say, “chronic”. Samantha admitted to smoking 10 spliffs a day for the last TWENTY years. That’s a lot of weed. And a lot of tobacco.

The BBC then decides to take the Independent / Daily Mail philosophy of: “If it’s not been proved it safe, assume it’s dangerous”, and we’re treated to a delightful blend of doomsaying and speculation. Playing the role of ‘concerned expert’ is Dr Onn Min Kon, who has some vague anecdotes and a plan to perform a study comparing the lungs of cannabis smokers with regular tobacco junkies. Plan, as in, he hasn’t done it yet, and there aren’t any hard facts on this line of thought. Now, I’m not saying cannabis is harmless. But there’s a lot more evidence that tobacco isn’t.

It’s a confusing world we live in, where news comes before results and opinions suffice in the absence of facts.

Entry Filed under: General

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